Are you looking to create accurate estimates, add precision to labor forecasts, and even level up your training and retention? Production rates represent the hours needed to complete a task or job, multiplied by your hourly rate, and they can be an extremely effective tool for building more predictability into your business.   Seasoned painters and estimators are typically comfortable eyeballing a job and projecting the labor hours. However, this process can be risky, requires years of experience and is difficult to hand off when you add a new estimator to your team. Production rates take experience and guesswork out of the equation by leveraging data collected from the field.   Here are some strategies for collecting, documenting and using production rates.     Where to Start Estimating software company Estimate Rocket* suggests starting by thinking about how you estimate. Calculate the production rates in the same units you’ll use on your estimates. For example, you may quote walls and ceilings per square foot; baseboards and other trim per linear foot; and windows, frames and doors by count.”   Next, consider whether you will group regular tasks under a single time (i.e., prep and paint a 100 square-foot room) or time each task separately (cut and roll a single coat in a 100 square-foot room). We like to create a standard prep and paint process and create a single time for that. For example, an interior project may include job site prep, spackling nail holes, primer, and two coats of paint. We time how long it takes to do that entire process and add additional tasks on a case-by-case basis,” says Chris Moore, owner of Elite Business Advisors.   Others take a more granular approach, timing each individual task so they can pick and choose the appropriate tasks for each unique job. This decision comes down to what works best for you.     Getting an Accurate Number Regardless of how you decide to group your tasks, there are some strategies to improve accuracy:   Test many people many times. Different people produce at different rates, and your averages should reflect that. “Repeat this procedure of timing your crew multiple times. A single run-through won’t suffice for obtaining accurate data to rely on,” says estimating software company Paint Scout*. It’s about accuracy, not speed. Brandon Lewis**, founder of the Academy for Professional Painting Contractors, suggests reminding everyone being timed that this is not a race. “What we are looking for here is repeatable accuracy. Too fast means that your feet are held to the fire on all future jobs. Too slow and you’ll be overpriced, potentially losing jobs.” Give yourself wiggle room. Whether you add in a buffer for each task or add in additional time when you estimate, don’t forget to account for breaks, setup/cleanup, potential substrate problems and unknowns. Consider details. Factor in the type of surface, color selected, number of coats, and other relevant aspects. By capturing these details, you can reuse the data for more accurate production rate calculations in the future.     Tracking and Documentation Now it’s time to be diligent about timing activities. When you’ve collected enough times, calculate your average to get your “standard production time.” Do this for each task or group of tasks until you establish a standard and repeatable picture of the time requirement of each job.   Keep this information in the format that best fits your needs. Some companies prefer keeping it in an Excel spreadsheet; others enter the data in their estimating and scheduling software. Note: Some estimating software comes with pre-loaded production rates. It is recommended that you test these numbers with your own crew before using them in an estimate.     Use The Data for Better Bids and Superb Scheduling Now that you have average tested standard production times, it’s time to put those numbers to work. Use your production rates to:   Create more detailed bids with better accuracy. Check out this article on "Detailed Estimates and Bids to Boost Profitability" for more tips on estimating. Schedule jobs with confidence. Set attainable production goals for staff. Ensure new team members are trained properly and ready to perform tasks within standard production times.     Remember, determining your production rates can help standardize your estimating, though certain factors, like prep, will still need to be evaluated on a project-by-project basis. While it may feel like a time-consuming task, production rates are an ideal starting point for building predictability and efficiency so you can grow and scale your business.     *This is being cited for reference purposes only. Behr Paint Company has no affiliation with and is not endorsing these tools. **There is no affiliation/partnership between Behr Paint Company and the individuals quoted.

Pro painters are experts in substrate, process and product, but they’re not the only ones committed to delivering a lasting and beautiful paint job. There’s another group just as committed to product performance, and it’s the paint chemists creating the product in the can.     The chemist’s job requires spending countless hours formulating and testing paint products in a combination of scenarios. Chemists work tirelessly to arm you with the right products and information that ultimately lead to a paint job that gets referrals and return business.   So, what do years of diligent work in the lab teach? And what can pro painters learn from chemists? Hint: A lot!   Research Fellow and Formulator Hai Nguyen has been innovating at Behr Paint Company for 17 years. Much of his time is spent researching raw materials and developing products. But when he isn’t in the lab, he’s working directly with pro painters onsite to tackle challenges and provide solutions. Nguyen shared some advice that can help contractors choose the right products, avoid coating failures and become an important resource for customers.   [caption id="attachment_1762" align="alignnone" width="1339"] Hai Nguyen[/caption]   Know what you are buying and why. Varying substrates and conditions require specific coating solutions for the best results. While many products are versatile and can be used on a range of surfaces, they may not always be the best choice for every application.”   As a pro, you need a deep bench of products and a strong understanding of where those products perform best so you can educate your customer and avoid coating failures.        Glossy surfaces need to be sanded, even when using a bonding primer. Painting or repainting a glossy surface is one of the more advanced jobs painters are tasked with. It’s the project most often botched by homeowners, and proper prep and product choice are crucial to success. While bonding primers are designed to bond to tough-to-paint surfaces, sanding creates a rougher surface that allows the primer to grip better, improving overall adhesion,” says Nguyen.   Alkalinity in new substrates is high. This means a primer for a new substrate is a must. A primer seals that substrate so that the final coating doesn’t blister or suffer from color burnout. Of course, you can use paint and primer in one, but you should apply two coats on a new substrate to avoid a coating failure.     When choosing premium paint, don’t just look at volume solids. Pro painters frequently talk about volume solids; however, the type of solids added is even more important. More solids don’t mean more premium pigments. Ask yourself what would happen if you were to put in extender, which is a low-grade pigment, versus titanium dioxide, which is a high-grade pigment. If you put in more extender, then you drive up volume solids, but that doesn't mean that the product is more premium. Actually, it’s now the opposite because you’ve reduced the overall amount of titanium, which gives the wet and dry hide, and substituted it with a low-grade pigment that doesn’t hide well at all,” Nguyen explains.   Refer to a product’s technical data sheet (TDS) and safety data sheet (SDS) for additional details about the materials used in the can of paint.   BEHR® products aren't just for the DIY customer. Behr has a long history of creating highly rated DIY products, which are often recognized as one of the best value products in the industry. The team has leveraged that expertise to create outstanding products for paint professionals as well. My job specifically focuses on paints designed for pro painters. We have a whole team of experienced pro formulators tasked with creating high-performing paint products for pros,” says Nguyen.     Chemists not only formulate paints that solve a host of challenges, but they also possess an abundance of information that can help pros achieve successful paint jobs and solve difficult coatings challenges.   If you have paint questions or want to learn more, contact your local BEHR Pro Rep.  

When you get color questions during the estimate, you may be tempted to say, “That’s not my area of expertise.” But before you do, consider that color is one of the most important decisions of any project and a motivating factor for homeowners wanting a new paint job. A painter who can help a homeowner with paint color selection may get the estimate signed and the job scheduled faster versus one who is lost in uncertainty.   So, what do pro painters need to know about color? Here are some color questions homeowners typically ask and some strategies to help you answer so you can close the paint job. [caption id="attachment_1738" align="alignnone" width="5120"] Dining Room | Wall: Aerial View S530-3; Side Wall: Blank Canvas DC-003[/caption]   What paint colors are trending? Erika Woelfel, VP of Color and Creative Services at Behr Paint Company, notes some exciting trends that we’re seeing in the industry.   Biophilic movement: Woelfel notes that blues and greens are color families that have been trending for several years, saying, “We’ve seen a biophilic movement (bringing nature into the built environment) in both residential and commercial spaces that plays a big part in this. These natural hues bring a relaxing aesthetic and often coordinate well with other colors, materials and finishes.” Behr offers a BioNature Collection which includes 50 colors to infuse harmony and wellbeing into built environments to elevate the human experience. Neutrals: For homeowners looking to keep their space cozy, she says to look for colors that are warm and enveloping. “You’re looking for some of those golden beiges and taupes.” Greige: Grays have been classic sellers for many years, however, Woelfel noted that the hues have been trending lighter. “They are more like light taupe than a gray. Grays have been evolving into some of those warmer, neutral colors.” Dramatic: Many are looking to add something bold to their space. “People have been using darker colors on their walls, including soft blacks like Cracked Pepper and deeper jewel tones like Rumors – our 2025 Color of the Year – as an accent color or a pop of color on doors and cabinets.”   [caption id="attachment_1739" align="alignnone" width="5120"] Kitchen | Base Cabinets: Rumors MQ1-15; Walls and Upper Cabinets: Blank Canvas DC-003; Island: Oxford Street N270-4[/caption]   To keep yourself up to date on trends, check out our annual 2025 Color Trends to awaken your clients’ spaces with endless expression. And be sure to regularly browse curated colors and trends with the ColorSmart by BEHR® tool, which includes a color wheel to explore color combinations and find the closest BEHR matched color. A little time studying can make you a treasure trove of knowledge for your clients.   What colors pair with the existing materials and finishes in my space? Finding complementary colors to existing items in a home can sometimes lead to indecision. Color tools can empower your client to make informed color choices.   Fan decks give the client a full range of choices to hold up next to materials and finishes in their space. Color cards at The Home Depot also provide inspiration for color and furniture pairings so your client can choose color with confidence. If you're working on an exterior project and want to show your client before and after photos with their chosen color scheme, your local BEHR Pro Rep can upload images of the project to the BEHR Pro Visualizer. You'll then be able to download the images and review the options with your client.   Will the colors look the same in different settings? Color is complex. As a painter, you know you can apply the same color in different settings, and it may look slightly different depending on the lighting and surroundings.   Remind your clients of this, and then use fan decks and drawdowns under different lighting conditions to illustrate how it will look at different times of the day. Sampling the color in different areas can also give a preview of the final result. Whether you provide those color samples or give your client instructions on what to pick up at The Home Depot, discussing and testing how light, sheen and surroundings play with color is smart business.   Do you remember what colors I’ve used in the past? Maintaining records of paint colors from previous projects in an organized system demonstrates your professionalism and dedication to your clients. Plus, it’s an effective way to encourage repeat business.   Behr offers color books that include every product and color used in a project. It’s an excellent option to keep accurate information in an attractive format. What color do you recommend? Many pro painters wonder what to do when homeowners want a color recommendation. No one wants to be on the hook if the color doesn’t turn out to their liking. The final color choice should be made by the homeowner, and you want them to sign off on that choice. But you can still provide inspiration and be a helpful guide. Consider these strategies to get the creative juices flowing:   Questions: Ask thoughtful and detailed questions to find out more about the purpose and desire for the space. Your portfolio: Don’t be bashful about using past paint projects and testimonials to inspire ideas. This demonstrates your knowledge of color and gives the client a peek at your past happy clientele, building further trust. BEHR® DESIGNER COLLECTION: “The DESIGNER COLLECTION palette has 30 colors that are tried-and-true best sellers. This is a great starting point for thinking about color,” says Woelfel.   [caption id="attachment_1743" align="alignnone" width="5120"] Kitchen | Cabinets: White 52; Wall: First Snow DC-006; Island: N480-5 Adirondack Blue[/caption]   Once your client has narrowed down the color scheme, help them use the tools and techniques above to make final selections and visualize their newly painted space.   In the end, color is just one more tool to help you close more estimates and build a reputable painting business.   If you have additional questions or want to learn more, contact your local BEHR Pro Rep.